Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot Macdonald was in Pokolbin on Friday to make the $2,260,314 funding announcement along with Cessnock Mayor Bob Pynsent.

The windfall comes courtesy of the state government’s Regional Growth and Tourism Fund and Mr MacDonald said that the grant would help implement new signage, including full-scale information bays , and gateway entry signs at major entry and exit points to guide visitors around the region’s tourism hot-spots.

“The Hunter Valley wine region is a draw card for tourism, and this grant will continue projects initiated in part by previous Resources for Regions funding,” Mr MacDonald said.

Councillor Pynsent echoed Mr MacDonald’s sentiment, adding that the funding would build on work carried out throughout 2018.

““Last year Council installed a number of information bays, city gateway signs, and wayfinding directional signage as part of a $2.5 million project that was funded through a dollar for dollar Federal Government Building Better Regions Fund grant,” Cr Pynsent said.

”Tourists travelling our region and enjoying the services our tourism operators offer will have a better experience. The signs not only look great but feature extremely valuable information about local experiences.

“This grant enables Council to roll out more signage that will help those visiting our wonderful local government area.”

Throughout last year, Cessnock council erected a total of twenty precinct signs that showcase the six unique precincts (the Around Hermitage Wine and Food Trail, Central Pokolbin, the Parish of Pokolbin, Lovedale, Mount View and the Wollombi Valley) that highlight the region as an attractive tourism destination.

Each sign sports a different logo, colour and pictograms that gives an overview of the individual precinct.  

To stay up to date with this project and current works being carried out visit www.cessnock.nsw.gov.au/community/roads/projects.